Sandwich Democrats protest town clerk's social media post

Taylor White's anti-Muslim comments on Facebook spark demands by some that he resign.

SANDWICH — "Muslims are our neighbors" — that's the message Gary Linehan painted on a sign he held up Friday morning in front of the Town Hall Annex to protest anti-Muslim remarks Town Clerk Taylor White made on Facebook.

By AMY ANTHONY

capecodtimes.com

By AMY ANTHONY

Posted Aug. 30, 2014 at 2:00 AM
Updated Aug 30, 2014 at 8:51 AM

By AMY ANTHONY

Posted Aug. 30, 2014 at 2:00 AM
Updated Aug 30, 2014 at 8:51 AM

» Social News

SANDWICH — "Muslims are our neighbors" — that's the message Gary Linehan painted on a sign he held up Friday morning in front of the Town Hall Annex to protest anti-Muslim remarks Town Clerk Taylor White made on Facebook.

Linehan was joined by five other members of the Sandwich Democratic Town Committee who think White should resign.

On Thursday, White said he made the comments in response to a news story posted on Facebook about a Vermont restaurant that is no longer advertising bacon because members of the Muslim religion find the pork product offensive.

"Do everything in your power to irritate the 'religion of peace,'" White wrote. "These people NEED to be taught a lesson!" The comments were captured by Twitter user "Patronage Perry" before White deleted the comments.

White later apologized, calling the comments "in poor taste" but not racist.

But protesters Friday morning said the comments undermine White's credibility as town clerk.

"This position is supposed to be totally objective and represent every citizen in this community," Paul Houlihan, the chairman of the Democratic committee, said.

Small group of protesters urge Town Clerk Taylor White to resign

Marie Jellinek said she wanted White to resign because she was offended that a public official would make fun of a population of the community.

"It's not anything about being politically correct," Jellinek said. "It's about who we are as Americans."

Patrick Prendergast called the comments "xenophobic, racist and bigoted."

"It's unbecoming of the town and our reputation," Prendergast said.

The protesters said they had received only one negative comment from a motorist passing by that morning.

Gerry Nye, a member of the town's Republican Town Committee, defended White on Thursday, telling a Times reporter, "Just because he's the town clerk doesn't mean he's not entitled to have an opinion."

Later that day, Nye posted the Times' story on Facebook, decrying calls for White to apologize.

"I doubt if I would apologize for an unkind remark about a religious cult that is dedicated to killing me," Nye wrote.

Imam Rafique Muhammed of the Islamic Center of Cape Cod said Friday that he had not heard about White's comments but would "ignore" them.

Muhammed, a Sandwich resident, emphasized that he and his children are American citizens.

"We don't have anything against anyone," he said. "We are all the same: human."